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DODGERS: Kershaw might get an extra day of rest before his next start

DODGERS: Kershaw might get an extra day of rest before his next start

It appears the only thing that can slow Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw this month is if Manager Dave Roberts, left, chooses to pitch him on five days' rest Sunday against the Mets' Bartolo Colon, rather than the usual four days' rest on Saturday against Mets ace Noah Syndergaard. What will win out: a pitcher's showdown for the ages or one manager's common sense?

LOS ANGELES – Considering how well he’s pitched every fifth day this month, might Clayton Kershaw actually get an extra day off before his next start?

It’s a thought, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday.

The team has a rare day off Thursday while it travels to New York to play the Mets. The Dodgers have played 18 games in 18 days, mixing in a 17-inning contest Sunday for good measure. The streak will reach 20 before the day off, so rest is a scarce quantity.

Kershaw is a scarcer quantity, a once-in-a-generation pitcher in the midst of a ridiculous month. He’s 5-0 in five May starts, allowing three runs in 42 innings. The left-hander has faced 142 batters this month – 16 above the minimum. He has more shutouts (three) than walks (two) this month.

It appears the only thing that can slow Kershaw is if Roberts chooses to pitch him on five days’ rest Sunday against Bartolo Colon, rather than the usual four days’ rest on Saturday against Mets ace Noah Syndergaard. What will win out: a pitcher’s showdown for the ages or one manager’s common sense?

“I like that theory as far as using that day for everyone to get the extra day,” Roberts said. “It’s been documented by everyone that starting pitchers get the extra day, they perform better. … Even for Clayton, his numbers speak to, when he gets an extra day he performs even better.”

Not really, if you want to split hairs.

Opponents hit slightly better against Kershaw on five days’ rest (.210 batting average, .269 on-base percentage, .305 slugging percentage) than four (.202/.261/.303). It’s a statistical flip of the coin for the pitcher and a larger question for the manager, who would be forced to start Kenta Maeda on no fewer than six days’ rest.

“We’re trying to figure out what we’re going to do as far as the off-day, giving guys an extra day, keeping guys on the same schedule,” Roberts said. “So yeah, we haven’t decided yet but we’re in talks.”

URIAS MAINTAINING HUMILITY

While the Dodgers enjoy a day off Thursday, pitcher Julio Urias will try to extend his streak of 27 consecutive scoreless innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 19-year-old left-hander is attempting to break a 111-year-old Pacific Coast League record (44).

Luis Avilan has been there virtually since the streak began. The veteran relief pitcher, who was recalled from Triple-A on Monday, said the success hasn’t gone to Urias’ head.

“I didn’t even know he had that streak,” Avilan said. “Whenever you have a streak like that, the last thing you want to do is talk about it.”

Urias is 4-1 with a PCL-leading 1.10 ERA.

“He’s having fun because he’s having a really good moment right now,” Avilan said. “He’s making it look, like, really easy. … I’ve played with a lot of prospects in my career and he’s one of the most humble prospects that I’ve ever seen.”

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